Door County in December: Complete Guide for 2026

Latest update: November 10, 2026

December brings two lovely versions of Door County: the Christmas-market weekends early in the month, then quieter days for winter walks, a holiday show and a warm place to land afterward. A hotel pool can be just as important to a family trip as the itinerary outside.

The timing matters. Sister Bay’s Christkindlmarkt finishes December 13, several museums change hours around Christmas, and familiar summer restaurants and attractions are already closed. Choose your dates around the experiences you want, then build a little breathing room into the weekend.

This month-by-month companion to our Door County in November guide covers December 2026. For broader planning, start with our complete Door County guide and Door County with kids.

Jump to: events · what’s open · seasonal closures · places to stay · weekend itinerary.

When to visit Door County in December

• December 4–6: Our pick for a first holiday visit. Combine the Sister Bay Christmas market with Sturgeon Bay’s Saturday parade or Ephraim’s Christmas in the Village.
• December 11–13: The final Christkindlmarkt weekend, plus Natural Christmas in Baileys Harbor and a holiday-movie screening in Southern Door on Saturday.
• Christmas week: Plan around shorter outings, a scheduled performance, meals arranged ahead and downtime at your lodging. The Christmas market will already be over.
• December 31: Choose Sturgeon Bay for the Cherry Drop’s new location. The organizer’s early family countdown is still tentative.

If Christmas markets are the reason for your trip, book one of the first two December weekends. If you mainly want a quieter stay, Christmas break can work well with a kitchen, an indoor pool and a few confirmed reservations.

Door County December 2026 events

Christkindlmarkt in Sister Bay: December 4–6 and 11–13

The Sister Bay Historical Society’s Christkindlmarkt fills the Corner of the Past Museum grounds, at 10310 Fieldcrest Road, with artisan shopping, Northern European food, historic buildings and a heated tent. Dress for an outdoor market, even with places to warm up.

December 13 is the final market day for 2026. The site’s ordinary museum season has ended; these special market dates do not mean the museum is open daily all winter. Our Sister Bay guide has more ideas for a meal or a stop nearby.

Christmas by the Bay Parade: December 5

Sturgeon Bay’s Christmas by the Bay Parade starts at 11 a.m. Saturday, December 5. The route leaves Sawyer Park, crosses the Michigan Street Bridge and continues onto Third Avenue. Make downtown Sturgeon Bay the morning’s main stop, then choose a museum visit or a trip farther north afterward.

Christmas in the Village in Ephraim: December 5

Ephraim’s Christmas in the Village brings Santa, elves and reindeer, wagon rides, crafts and the Harborside Park tree lighting to the village on Saturday, December 5. The organizer confirms the date and activities; its detailed schedule is still forthcoming. This pairs well with the Sister Bay market, but leave time for parking and warming up.

Merry-Time Festival of Trees: through December 30

The Merry-Time Festival of Trees runs November 14–December 30 at the Door County Maritime Museum in Sturgeon Bay. Decorated trees, wreaths and displays add a holiday layer to a visit to the museum’s maritime exhibits.

A useful family saving: Children 17 and younger accompanied by a paid adult receive free admission on festival Sundays, including December 6, 13, 20 and 27. The museum’s holiday closures still apply; see the opening-hours section below.

Natural Christmas in Baileys Harbor: December 12

Destination Door County’s 2026 listing for Natural Christmas gives Saturday, December 12, starting at 3 p.m., at The Ridges Sanctuary. Expect a softly lit boardwalk, holiday crafts and places to gather with warm drinks. Event admission is listed as free; wreath-making costs extra.

A holiday play in Sturgeon Bay: December 2–27

Third Avenue PlayWorks stages It’s a Wonderful Life: Live in Door County on selected dates December 2–27. Actors, music and live sound effects turn the story into a radio-play experience. The theater recommends it for ages 6 and older, and there is no Christmas Day performance. Pick an actual performance from the ticket calendar before planning dinner around it.

Door County Christmas Movie Trail: all month

The free 2026 Christmas Movie Trail runs November 1–January 5, 2027, connecting locations associated with A Cherry Pie Christmas. Use the mobile pass to shape a drive with stops for coffee, shopping and scenery. Each business keeps its own hours, and a trail listing does not guarantee winter access to an attraction such as Eagle Tower.

A free screening of A Cherry Pie Christmas is also scheduled at Southern Door Auditorium on December 12 at 2 p.m.; tickets are required. Reserve through the auditorium as directed in the linked announcement.

New Year’s Eve Cherry Drop: December 31

The 2026 Cherry Drop moves to Sturgeon Bay, at Community Foundation Square beside the Old Bell Tower at Third Avenue and Kentucky Street. The large illuminated cherry descends at midnight to welcome 2027.

The published tentative schedule also includes an 8 p.m. family mini drop on the west side followed by fireworks. Those details are still being finalized, so check the organizer’s page before choosing where to gather. Our Door County New Year’s guide covers more planning ideas.

What’s open in Door County in December?

There is plenty to do, but winter opening days and holiday opening days are different questions. These are useful starting points for an itinerary.

Door County Maritime Museum, Sturgeon Bay

The museum’s posted November–December hours are 10 a.m.–5 p.m. It closes at 2 p.m. December 24 and is closed December 25, December 31 and January 1. The indoor museum is a December option; regular Tug John Purves tours run May–October.

Hands On Art Studio, near Fish Creek

Hands On Art Studio posts winter project hours of Friday–Sunday, 10 a.m.–5 p.m., with new projects started by 3:30 p.m. December can have special holiday hours. Ceramics and fused glass need firing and later pickup or shipping, so choose a same-day project if you are heading home that afternoon.

Door County Historical Museum, early December only

The Door County Historical Museum at 18 N. Fourth Avenue posts Tuesday–Saturday, 10 a.m.–4:30 p.m., through December 15. It closes December 16–January 15 and on major holidays. It is a different museum from the Maritime Museum, with a different winter schedule.

Parks and winter walks

Peninsula State Park, Potawatomi State Park and Whitefish Dunes State Park give you room for a short outdoor outing. Start with our Door County hiking guide, then use the DNR’s winter recreation information to choose a route for the conditions.

Snowshoeing, skiing and sledding depend on snow. December dates alone do not guarantee an open rink, groomed trails or safe lake ice. Keep winter walks off groomed ski tracks, and choose an indoor backup from our Door County indoor activities guide.

What’s closed for the season?

Some summer favorites are easy to mistake for year-round stops. Keep these off a normal December itinerary:

• Cana Island Lighthouse visitor operations and tower climbs: The published season ends October 31. The Gills Rock maritime museum also operates May–October.
• The Farm: Its visitor season ends in mid-October.
• Skyway Drive-In and Red Putter Mini Golf: Both are listed as closed for the season on Ephraim’s current operating-hours page.
• Wilson’s, Chef’s Hat, Good Eggs, Old Post Office Restaurant and Summer Kitchen: The same local operating-hours page lists these familiar Ephraim dining stops as seasonally closed.
• Eagle Tower: DNR lists an approximate May–October season. Weather can extend access, but snow or frost closes the tower and it closes in midwinter even in low-snow years. Make the park the outing and check tower access separately.
• Rock Island passenger ferry: The connecting Karfi is a May–October service. Washington Island’s main vehicle ferry runs year-round on a separate schedule.

Some hotels close, too: Ephraim Shores, Somerset Inn & Suites and Pine Grove Resort are seasonal properties rather than December lodging picks. Compare them with the winter options below. Our full winter opening and closure guide covers more businesses around the peninsula.

Where to eat in December

Build a meal stop into each outing instead of assuming the next village will have something open. Sturgeon Bay makes a useful base for restaurants and groceries; farther north, choose a restaurant before driving across the peninsula.

In Fish Creek, White Gull Inn serves meals year-round and currently posts winter fish boils on Friday and Sunday. Reserve a fish-boil seating and confirm holiday service directly. In Ephraim, Sip is a winter option on the local operating-hours list, while many of the village’s summer breakfast and ice-cream stops are closed.

Use our Door County restaurant guide, breakfast guide and fish-boil guide to narrow your choices. For December 24–25, arrange meals ahead and keep breakfast supplies and snacks at your lodging. Year-round operation does not establish Christmas Day service.

Where to stay in Door County in December

For a family December trip, we would prioritize a confirmed winter operating season, enough room to spread out and something enjoyable indoors. A kitchen helps when restaurants take a holiday break.

The Expedia links below are affiliate links. North Shore Family Adventures may earn a commission if you book through them, at no additional cost to you. Enter your exact dates and check room amenities, pool maintenance, minimum stays and cancellation terms.

Sturgeon Bay: Westwood Shores Waterfront Resort

Westwood Shores has suites with full kitchens and gas fireplaces, plus an indoor pool, whirlpool and sauna. It is a good fit for a slower waterfront stay within driving distance of Sturgeon Bay’s museum, restaurants and downtown events. The property’s amenities page confirms the indoor swimming area operates year-round; the outdoor pool is seasonal.

Egg Harbor: Newport Resort

Newport Resort offers one- and two-bedroom suites and a heated indoor pool and hot tub. Egg Harbor is a useful middle-of-the-peninsula base if your weekend includes both Sturgeon Bay and northern villages. Its local visitor-bureau listing confirms year-round operation.

Sister Bay: Open Hearth Lodge

Open Hearth Lodge is our pick when the Christmas market is the main reason for the trip. Its south Sister Bay location works well for market weekends and outings into Ephraim. The lodge confirms it is open year-round, with an indoor pool and whirlpool for warming up after an outdoor afternoon.

Fish Creek: Homestead Suites

Homestead Suites puts you near the Peninsula State Park entrance. Choose it for a weekend organized around short park outings and Fish Creek meals. The property lists an indoor pool, hot tub and game room, along with winter stays. Room and suite layouts vary, so choose the accommodation that fits your family.

Ephraim: Eagle Harbor Inn

Eagle Harbor Inn offers a quieter village base with an indoor pool. Its local listing confirms year-round operation and one- and two-bedroom suites with kitchens and fireplaces. Check which amenities belong to your selected suite rather than an inn room.

For more choices, browse our Door County family-stay collection on Expedia. It includes seasonal properties, so enter December dates before comparing. Our town-by-town lodging guide and Door County lodging guide help you choose a home base.

A relaxed December weekend itinerary

Friday: Arrive with dinner planned and groceries picked up. If you are staying in northern Door County on a market weekend, save the outdoor shopping for a time when everyone is warm and rested.

Saturday: Choose one anchor event. On December 5, make it the Sturgeon Bay parade or an Ephraim-and-Sister-Bay afternoon. On December 12, choose between the Southern Door movie and Natural Christmas, allowing travel time rather than squeezing both into the afternoon. Add lunch and one short stop along the route.

Sunday: Visit the Merry-Time Festival of Trees, using its Sunday children’s admission offer, or make art before heading home. Leave time to collect fired projects if you made them earlier in the weekend.

During Christmas week, swap the market for a booked theater performance or a short park outing. Our Christmas week guide and winter Door County guide have more ideas beyond the early-December events.

What to know before you go

Pack warm layers, waterproof boots, spare gloves and swimsuits. Keep outdoor plans short enough to adjust for wind, ice or tired children, and save shoreline walks for daylight. If you visit Cave Point County Park, stay well back from wet or icy cliff edges.

Check Wisconsin 511 before the drive and the current park or business page before a special trip. A Saturday opening schedule may differ from a Tuesday, and holiday service may differ again. One confirmed activity, a warm meal and a comfortable place to stay make a very good December day.